The Nasty Poet - Poet

South London born and raised Sophie, aka The Nasty Poet, is the next to feature in our Community series. With her rapidly rising reputation, she released her first book last year and is at the forefront of the London scene, spreading the importance of words and lyricism.

What initially inspired you to get into poetry?

So, in the first place, I was actually in Peckham at Bussey Building at an open-mic event. I’d had a couple of drinks and with some dutch courage, I was like, “I’ll do a poem!” I got on stage and performed, and people found it funny. I got a natural high, maybe I have slight attention seeking qualities, and then from there I started writing more and more and developed it from there. Poetry wasn’t of interest to me at school or anything like that, so really I just fell into it and haven’t stopped writing since.

When you are writing, who are you writing for?

I write for myself first. I do think artists have a responsibility to write for others and encapsulate a feeling or an emotion, but I also feel like if I’m not writing for myself then it really lacks any level of authenticity. I write in a way that is accessible so other people who’ve felt the same things that I’ve felt are able to associate with what I’m saying and hopefully connect with it on a deeper level.

What inspires your creative process?

Usually extreme emotion. I feel things deeply. So I feel like in order to do any writing that is of any value to myself or anyone else, usually comes from extreme feeling. Whether that’s something really good or really bad, I feel like I need to be in that moment of feeling something, that usually informs the writing.

What are your career highlights?

There’s definitely highlights but I definitely think the whole thing as a process is what I’m most proud of. I’ve certainly done some cool things and performed in some really incredible places, but actually instead of just being highlights the whole thing as a process and as a journey is probably what I think is the most important. I look back at some of the work I wrote years ago, and I may have performed it at somewhere amazing but the way that my work has developed since that point, to me is much more impressive than being in that particular place.

Tell us a little bit about your first book, ‘Blessings, Mainly Schoolings’.

'Blessings, Mainly Schoolings’ was written predominantly during the first lockdown. I was quite time rich, like most people, so I had plenty of free time to do some writing. I’d always had the idea that I wanted to write a book. A lot of my poetry is recorded or performed so for me exploring the written word is kind of a new thing, so I wanted to set myself the challenge of writing something and having something physical. The release date was also really important because we’ve lost so much ability to connect with physical things, so for me having something physical like a book, that you can physically hold was really important.

As well as writing and performing, you also host a radio show. How do you find that?

So the radio show is called ‘The Lyricism Show’, it’s on Foundation FM which is a Peckham based radio show, all female led. Basically it’s a show that happens every month. I interview singers, songwriters, rappers, poets, lyricists in general and we just talk about words, the importance of writing, what their creative process is like. We also play absolute bangers!

It’s a really good show for looking at not only up-and-coming talent but also established lyricists. I’ve also started a segment where I ask for poets to submit audio poetry which is really nice as you get to hear exciting, fresh new poetry and it gives people a chance to be on a platform that they might not have been on before. I feel like the reason I’m in the position I am is because I had community behind me and it’s something that’s helped me progress a lot. So I really want to make sure I play an active role in supporting other people in the same way, because it’s been so important to me.

What is your fashion style?

So my style is very laid back. Horizontal laid back! I have a love for trainers, I’ve got loads and loads of pairs of trainers. I just like anything that makes me feel comfortable and feel like I can be myself. I’ll wear the same outfit that I can go and see my friends in and then perform because being comfortable when performing is crucial.

And finally… What does Wonderland look like to you?

Wonderland would be a place where there is free pina coladas everywhere! But also it would be a really relaxed space. There’s something very calming about being by the water so it would definitely be a desert island. Sunshine, good vibes, good music. And I’d just sit peacefully in a hammock drinking pina coladas and writing poetry, and life would be sweet!